By: Ryan Michael
Moline, IL — The Quad City Steamwheelers, defending champions of the IFL's Eastern Conference, have officially announced their coaching staff for the 2023 season.
Cory Ross (Head Coach), Wes Baskovic (Defensive Line/ST), Nigel Stephens (Wide Receivers/ST), Darrick Reaves (Offensive Line/ST), Thurgood Brooks (Defensive Backs/ST), Chris McIntosh (Quality Control Assistant) and Ryan Michael (Offensive/Defensive Assistant) make up a staff of coaches who have all been with the Steamwheelers in previous seasons.
Coach Ross told SteamwheelersFootball.com "I am very excited to get started with these coaches! I've added some new but familiar faces with the same goal and that is bringing a Championship to this community and to the Vibrant Arena! Every coach on my staff has past experience coaching for this football team and that continuity is something I value. We can't wait to get to work!"
Cory Ross
Head Coach
Offensive Coordinator
Director of Football Operations
Cory Ross has been the Head Coach of the Steamwheelers ever since the franchise returned to Quad City in 2018. During that time, he has helped lead the team to the postseason in two different leagues (CIF and IFL).
In 2022, the Steamwheelers defeated the defending IFL Champion Massachusetts Pirates in the first round of the playoffs before upsetting the No. 1 seed Frisco Fighters to win the Eastern Conference Championship and earn a birth in the IFL National Championship game.
In 2021, when the Steamwheelers entered a state of dormancy due to the pandemic, Coach Ross served the Bismarck Bucks as the team's Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator, helping to lead the Bucks to their first IFL postseason birth in franchise history.
From 2015-2017, Ross served as the Head Coach of the Omaha Beef, recording back-to-back 7-5 seasons and earning a birth in the 2017 CIF League Championship Game.
As an athlete, Ross played running back and ended his NCAA career at the University of Nebraska ranked 4th in school history with 3,472 total yards from scrimmage. In his final college football game, Nebraska defeated Michigan 32-28 and Ross was named the 2005 Alamo Bowl MVP.
Ross played for the Baltimore Ravens from 2006-2008, recording multiple 100-yard games, including 154 total return yards vs. the Indianapolis Colts in the 2006 AFC Divisional Playoff Game.
Ross played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions from 2009-2011, winning UFL Offensive MVP honors in 2010.
Wes Baskovic
Defensive Line Coach
Special Teams
Wes Baskovic has over 25 years of experience coaching every position in football at various levels throughout Iowa and Illinois. He returns in 2023 for his 4th season with the Steamwheelers.
In 2021, he served the Bismarck Bucks as the team's Quality Control Coach specializing in data analytics for game-planning, contributing to the Bucks first ever IFL playoff appearance in franchise history. In 2022, he returned to the Quad Cities with Coach Ross, serving as the team's Defensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator. He currently serves as an Offensive Assistant Coach at Augustana College working with the Offensive Line and Tight Ends. Wes and his wife Maria have been married for 23 years and have two children, Lissette and Macio.
Nigel Stephens
Wide Receivers Coach
Director of Player Relations
Special Teams
Nigel Stephens has over a decade of experience playing and coaching football. He returns in 2023 for his 5th season as a member of Coach Ross' staff with a focus in coaching wide receivers.
Nigel has extensive scouting experience and has played a pivotal role in helping to assemble the team's 2023 roster.
Darrick Reaves
Offensive Line Coach
Special Teams
Darrick Reaves brings 13 years of indoor football coaching experience and 20 years of High School coaching experience to the 2023 Steamwheelers. He has served as the team's Offensive Line coach since the Steamwheelers' return to football in 2018.
Darrick and his wife Veda reside in Moline, IL with their children Danielle, Havon, Donovan, Revere, Vadarricka and VaDaisja.
Thurgood Brooks
Defense Back Coach
Special Teams
Thurgood Brooks played football as a defensive back in High School at Rock Island High School and collegiately at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale (2 seasons) and William Penn University (1 season). Prior to graduating from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Thurgood served as a Recruiting Coordinator for the football team for 2 seasons. Thurgood has been a varsity football Assistant Coach at Rock Island High School for the past 7 years. While coaching at Rock Island High School, he has served as the Defensive Backs Coach for 6 seasons, Wide Receivers Coach for 1 season and Special Teams Coordinator for 3 seasons while earning Assistant Coach of the Year honors twice, in 2019 and 2021 respectively.
Thurgood was on Coach Ross' staff during the 2020 Steamwheelers season prior to the pandemic forcing the team into a state of dormancy and he looks forward to rejoining the staff for the 2023 season.
Chris McIntosh
Quality Control Coaching Assistant
Chris McIntosh returns to the Steamwheelers after serving as the team's Offensive Quality Control Coach and Special Teams Assistant in 2018 and 2019. During that time, Chris also coordinated team video on game nights. In his 19th season at Davenport Assumption High School, he currently coaches Tight Ends, Outside Linebackers and assists on all Special Teams at the varsity level.
Chris resides with his wife, Cathy, in Davenport. He has three children: Melinda, Nicole, and Kyle.
Ryan Michael
Offensive/Defensive Assistant
Director of Player Personnel
Ryan Michael has covered the NFL for 15 seasons, with a focus in pro football history, statistics, analytics, film-study and player-interviews. His work has been featured on NFL.com, Jaguars.com, AtlantaFalcons.com, ESPN and NFL Network. He has interviewed over 30 NFL veterans including Brett Favre, Terrell Owens, Kurt Warner, Matt Ryan and Fran Tarkenton.
Ryan joined the IFL in 2015 and served as a Featured Writer and Insider for the Billings Wolves from 2015-2016. He joined the Quad City Steamwheelers in 2022 as a Quality Control Coach and Defensive Assistant. After the end of the 2022 IFL season, Ryan was named the Steamwheelers' Director of Player Personnel and has worked with Coach Ross and his staff to help assemble the 2023 roster. Ryan assists with scouting, film-study and quality control data for the offense and defense.
Be sure to secure your tickets! We open the 2023 season on March 17th at home vs. the Arizona Rattlers.
Season Tickets - Quad City Steamwheelers (steamwheelersfootball.com)
